The Kansas Department of Agriculture (KDA) has extended the deadline for Kansas agribusinesses, manufacturers and producers of agricultural products to complete the Kansas Agriculture Workforce Needs Assessment Survey through January 31, 2016. The survey will help KDA identify the number and types of jobs, and specific skills required for those jobs, in agriculture, in an effort to help support growth in agriculture.

 Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey said finding employees who are trained and prepared for jobs is a key challenge in agriculture today.

 “We need to fully understand the gap between what the employers need and what potential employees have, whether that is technical skills, workplace skills or additional certifications,” said Secretary McClaskey. “This survey will give us the necessary information to understand the gap and to further strategize with industry partners on how to address these challenges.”

 McClaskey said this survey will be used as a catalyst to begin the work of creating or redirecting training programs in an effort to keep the workforce involved in agriculture locally and statewide. The survey is currently being offered online at www.tinyurl.com/kdaworkforce with the access code of GrowAg, but also can be mailed to those who request a paper version. KDA is keeping the survey open through January 31, 2016.

 KDA is focused on serving Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and the consumers/customers they serve. A current priority is growing agriculture in the state, eliminating barriers to growth, developing workforce and building marketing activities in-state, out-of-state and globally.

 For more information on the survey, visit http://agriculture.ks.gov/workforce.